Non-Destructive Tesing Manager

TESTING THE WATERS

WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND? I started as a trainee Ultrasonic weld inspector at Hall Longmore Wadeville in 1980, at R2.30 per hour. The work involved 12-hour work days, and often over weekends and nightshifts. I was promoted to NDT supervisor after three years. Remembering that my dad always told me to get a trade behind me; I took his advice and applied to become an apprentice electrician at Hall Longmore and qualified in 1987. I joined Howden Power some years later as the NDT Level 2 technician and had the opportunity to study at the SAIW. I then started at the SAIW in 1995 as a junior NDT lecturer and completed my NDT Level 3 studies. In 2002 I left the SAIW and worked on various projects including Mossgas and Eskom. l started at Rotek Engineering as the Turbine NDT specialist in 2003 and gained a ton of experience working in the power generation industry. In 2011 I was approached by Eskom to be the Eskom NDT level III. After three years, I decided to return to the SAIW to teach again and have been back for six years.

KEY REASONS TO CONSIDER A CAREER IN NDT? There are lots of opportunities throughout the manufacturing as well as the in-service industry. And the remuneration is good!

WHAT TRAINING IS REQUIRED? It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3! Start as a Level 1 student to get the feel of NDT and learn about various surface methods. Then move on to Level 2, which is a bit tougher but well worth the effort and in time move on to Level 3. To become an accomplished NDT inspector you have to do the hard miles, often away from home and in not such great places.

IS THERE A TYPE OF PERSONALITY BEST SUITED TO BEING AN NDT MANAGER? You need to have an appetite for knowledge, be curious, stubborn (do not settle for less than the best) and have integrity, even when it means you must stand alone. And you’ve got to be okay with getting your hands dirty :)

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BEST ASPECTS OF THE JOB? You get to travel around the world doing something you are passionate about.

WHICH EXPERIENCES HAVE YOU NOT ENJOYED? Working in the Jungle in Angola and being used as a taxi by an army patrol springs to mind.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR CAREER TO DATE? Seeing students who have started at the bottom with a dream of being the best at NDT and then going on to accomplish their dream.

ANY ADVICE FOR SOMEONE STARTING OUT IN NDT? It’s a great choice and NDT has

MARK DIGBY NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTING MANAGER

SAIW

supported me and my family financially throughout most of my working career. Remember though that Rome wasn’t built in a day. Don’t profess to know it all - learn from the best and give of your best.

DESCRIBE THE JOB IN THREE WORDS It needs a couple more words than three… Non-Destructive Testing is the practical application of science to test things without breaking them.